Bears Select QB Fields Following 1st Round Trade In NFL Draft

CHICAGO — Just four years after selecting a quarterback with a first-round selection, the Chicago Bears opted to go that route again Thursday night when they made a trade to move up nine spots to select Justin Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Chicago traded a first-round pick this year (No. 20), a first-rounder next year, a fifth-round pick this year and a fourth-round pick in 2022 to the New York Giants to select the Ohio State play-caller.

Fields, 22, who took the Buckeyes to the NCAA National Championship game in January (Ohio State lost to Alabama, 52-24) as a junior, was one of the top-rated quarterback prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Bears also have the No. 52, No. 83, No. 204, No. 208, No. 221 and No. 228 picks in the seven-round draft. The draft runs through Saturday in Cleveland.

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The top five position needs for Chicago going into the draft were identified as quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver, defensive back and edge rusher. The Bears finished the 2020 NFL season with an 8-8 record.

The Bears traded up in the 2017 NFL Draft to select Mitch Trubisky with the No. 2 pick that year. He signed with the Buffalo Bills in the offseason.

Chicago signed Andy Dalton to a one-year contract worth $10 million, and up to $13 million in incentives, last month.

Fields finished the shortened 2020 season with 2,100 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, and added 383 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on the ground. He repeated as the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year and unanimous first-team all-conference. Fields finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.